Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the lack of a statement of the case (SOC) addressing these issues. The Veteran must be provided with an SOC so that he can file a substantive appeal if he wishes to continue his appeal.

The Board found no service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder or Hepatitis B due to lack of in-service incurrence and credible medical evidence. The claims were denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; skin disorder, including psoriatic arthritis; liver disorder, including cirrhosis; portal hypertension; and esophageal disorder prior to a decision by the Board.

The Board denied service connection for Hepatitis C and Actinic keratosis, finding that the conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.,Both conditions are considered to have been caused by the Veteran's own willful misconduct (Hepatitis C) and lack of exposure to herbicide agents (Actinic keratosis).

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection for a right ankle disability and hepatitis C. The Board found no current right ankle disability, and the VA examiner could not provide an etiology opinion without resorting to speculation.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized non-VA medical expenses incurred at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center from March 29, 2007 to April 5, 2007 is denied because he did not receive VA healthcare within the 24-month period preceding his emergency treatment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for congestive heart failure, primary biliary cirrhosis, hiatal hernia, hypertension, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), and prostate cancer are denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service that could be linked to the current conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD, and for adjudication of his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C and a back disorder due to incomplete examination reports, lack of medical records, and need for further development.

The VA determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran does not have a hepatitis C diagnosis, and thus, the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are not met.

The Board found that hepatitis C was not incurred in service and denied the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his incarceration and inability to appear for a scheduled hearing. He seeks service connection for hepatitis C, left knee bursitis/tendonitis, and an increased rating for right ankle DJD.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. The VA examiner diagnosed the Veteran with PTSD related to his military service in Vietnam. Service connection is also granted for Hepatitis C, as it relates to the Veteran's right-ear piercing during service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient medical opinions and additional records needed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The case will be readjudicated after scheduling new examinations.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for Hepatitis C prior to February 9, 2012 and from that date was denied as the evidence did not show daily fatigue, malaise, or anorexia requiring dietary restriction or continuous medication. From February 9, 2012, the evidence showed near-constant debilitating symptoms but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD is dismissed. The claim for residuals of hepatitis was denied as there is no current evidence of a disability.

The Veteran's hepatitis and renal calculus claims are being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim is also being held in abeyance pending adjudication of the other issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of her exposure history.